NuVasive has announced the results of a study published in The European Spine Journal, validating the versatility of its MaXcess retractor in prone, single-position eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) and posterior fixation.

In the prospective, comparative study, peri-operative outcomes were compared between a consecutive series of prone single-position XLIF with posterior fixation patients (pro-XLIF) and patients treated with XLIF in the lateral position who were then repositioned prone for posterior fixation.

The authors found no major complications in either group. While average pro-XLIF patient preparation and fluoroscopy times were slightly longer than in XLIF patients, the overall procedure time was nearly 50 minutes shorter for the single-position XLIF patients. Disability and pain improvements were similar between the groups. All patients in the study were treated with XLIF using the MaXcess retractor, a key tool in the Company’s X360 system, a comprehensive approach to lateral single-position surgery leveraging advanced techniques and technologies to deliver best-in-class, patient-specific care, while enhancing operating room workflow and efficiency.

“This study describes the surgical technique for and presents early clinical validation of an evolutionary approach to NuVasive’s flagship XLIF procedure,” said Kyle Malone, vice president of medical, clinical, and regulatory affairs at NuVasive. “The results build on prior literature validation of our X360 lateral single-position surgery system and shows the versatility of the MaXcess retractor’s ability to perform single-position XLIF in a number of patient positions. Furthermore, the published study underscores the continued commitment of thought leaders, including study authors Prof Lamartina and Dr Berjano, to advance techniques in lateral approach surgery.”

“Pro-XLIF provides an opportunity for surgeons who feel more comfortable with the traditional prone position to incorporate the advantages of both XLIF and single-position surgery in select patients,” said Pedro Berjano, orthopaedic spine surgeon at IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galleazzi in Milan, Italy. “For those facing complex deformity and revision cases, pro-XLIF may allow for a wider range of posterior corrective maneuvers with the patient in the prone position with enhanced intraoperative efficiency and reduced operative time for the patient.”